Hamper



D. GREENE Marcia 15, 1949,

HAMPER E iled Dec. 12, 1945 lNVENTOR 04W? GREENE BY 1, V ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1949 HAMPER David Greene,

Brooklyn,

N. Y., assignor to Esmco Auto Products Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 12, 1945, Serial No. 634,451 12 Claims. (01. 248-134) This invention relates to hampers for use in collection of laundry. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of the kind defined including a supporting frame, in which a hamper body or container is pivotally mounted to swing in a forwardly tilted position automatically in the operation of raising the cover of the hamper, means being provided to maintain the hamper in its tilted position. Still more particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the kind defined wherein the supporting frame of the hamper includes outwardly extending towel supporting rods, or frame portions, at the upper sides of the frame.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following descriptions, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a hamper made according to my invention, showing the parts in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the hamper with part of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is a reduced view similar to Fig. 1 showing the hamper in a tilted position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view with part of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. I with parts of the construction broken away: and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view, the section being substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In practice, I provide a frame ID, comprising front and back U-shaped frame members II and l2, both of which are of the same general form and construction. Each frame member H and I2 includes a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed supporting legs l3 and positioned at the lower sides of the semi-circular lower portions 15 and IS of the frames. The frames H and I2 are joined and reinforced at the termination of the semi-circular portions [5 and IS in brace rods l1 and I 8. Upper ends of the frames are further joined and bracedby substantially U- shaped towel supporting rods l9 and 29.

Extending between and joining upper, rear ends of the frame I2 is a pivot rod or tube 2| which forms a pivotal support for a cover member 22, the latter having a recessed or channelled rear edge, as at 23, to receive the tube 2| the tube being held in the channel 23 by a U-strip 24 which may be termed a'hinge strip. This strip also reinforces the rear edge portion of the cover. Arranged within the frame H) is a box-shaped hamper 25 comprising flat front and back walls 26 and 21, lower edge portions of which are semicircular in form, for example, the lower edge 26' of the front wall 26. This semi-circular formation conforms with and fits within the semicircular formation of the frames H and I2, as at l5 and I6. It will appear that the rear wall 21 is set inwardly at its lower portion, as indicated at 21', Fig. 1, so that, in swinging or tilting the hamper 25 forwardly, as seen in Fig. 3, the lower rear corner portion of the hamper will be contained within the boundaries of the rear frame l2, so that the hamper may be positioned in close proximity or in abutting engagement with a wall without interference of the swinging or tilting of the hamper.

The hamper 25 includes side walls 28 and 29 which are joined in a lower semi-circular wall portion 30, forming the bottom of the hamper and this construction provides a bottom wall structure which will provide free displacement of clothing placed in the hamper.

Adjacent the side wall 29 is a supplemental side wall 3| forming between these walls a chamber 32. In this chamber is arranged a long lever 33 pivoted at its lower end to the wall 29, as seen at 34.

The upper end of this lever is pivoted to a bracket 35, as seen at 33. The bracket 35 is secured to the under surface of the cover 22. Adjacent the wall 28 is a supplemental side wall 31 which extends into the hamper compartment sufficiently enough to provide a cover and protection to another lever 33', shown further in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and similar in all respects to the lever 33, being pivoted to the wall 28 and to a bracket similar to the bracket 35.

Arranged in the channel or compartment 32 is a lock or latch link 38. This link is pivotallysupported on the lever 33, as seen at 39. The link has an elongated aperture 40 and supported be tween the walls 29 and 3| is a pin M which slides in the aperture 40 and is adapted to drop into an oifset portion 42 in the link 38, as seen in Fig. 3, in looking the hamper 25 in its forward tilted position.

The wall 29, at a point adjacent and below the central portion of the link 38, is provided with an elongated aperture 43, in which is mounted a link release pin 44 having a round knob or fingerpiece 45 at its outer end and a flange 46 (which, in conjunction with the knob 45, retains the pin against displacement from the wall. When the link 38 is in locked position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the pin M may be raised to strike the lower side of the link, removing the pin 4! from the notch end 42, thus releasing the hamper and facilitates return thereof from the tilted position to the normal position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The hamper 25 is pivoted in the front frame I I through pivots 41 and 48, spacing sleeves 49 and 50 being employed on the pivots to centralize the hamper within the frame in the manner illustrated in Fig, 1. The upper edge of the front wall 26 of the hamper 25 has two rubber or other bumper knobs for retaining the cover in raised position slightly above the upper edge of the hamper 25. This provides for a circulation of air at the top of the hamper and, further, it is preferred that the back wall 2'! of the hamper has, adjacent the upper end thereof, spaced ventilting apertures 52, as indicated in Fig. 1, and one of which is shown in section in Fig. 5. The upper outer edge of the front wall 26 of the hamper is provided with a fingerpiece recess 53 which facilitates insertion of the fingers beneath the front edge of the cover 22 in the operation of raising said cover. In this manner, the front edge of the cover can be kept substantially in alinement with the front wall 26 of the hamper. The back wall 21, at each side of the hamper, will have openings, as for example the opening 54, note Fig. 2, through which the levers 33--33' are free to pass when the hamper is tilted forwardly.

It will be apparent that the walls 3| and 31 will protect and guard the clothing from coming in contact with the levers 33-33. On the other hand, these levers, in conjunction with the link 38 at one side of the "cabinet, are substantially concealed within the cabinet structure, thus producing a neat and finished appearance and, further, prevents linkage of this type from contacting towels that may be suspended from the towel frames l9 and 20.

In the use of the device and when it is desired to place clothing or other articles in the hamper, the cover 22 is raised by hand and, in this operation, the levers 33 pull forwardly on the rear portion of the hamper and swing the hamper forwardly on the pivots 41 and 48. When the pin 4| strikes the end of the link 38, defined by the aperture 40, the link 38 will drop by gravity moving the pin 4| into the offset or notch portion 42, thus locking the hamper in its tilted position. The hamper will remain in this position until released and, in closing the hamper, the hand is placed upon the cover 22 and the knob 45 is engaged by the other hand and raised to move the link 38 upwardly; whereupon the pin 4| is released and the lowering of the cover will automatically lower the hamper.

With my improved construction, the hamper will occupy a minimum amount of space in a room and may, by reason of the bevelled wall 21', be retained in close proximity or abutting engagement with a wall.

It will also be apparent that the hamper pre-- sents a fiat top which will provide a table or support for other articles and, from this standpoint, may be used as an accessory table when the hamper is maintained in closed position.

It will be apparent that the cover has its hinge or pivotal mounting in the side members of the rear frame l2 and the cover forms the means for supporting the container in closed position, the rear portion of the container levers, rods or bars 33-33 with the front end of the cover seating upon the cushions 5| and with the load taken directly upon the pivots 41-48. In other words, the cover and container are independently pivoted in the frame and have the link coupling with each other through the rods Bil-33. This will clearly be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to seoiue by Letters Patent is:

1. A hamper comprising a frame composed of two substantially similar U-shaped front and back frame members, means joining and spacing said frame members, a container pivotally supported in the lower portion of the front frame member providing forward tilting movement of the upper portion of said container, said container having a cover hinged at its rear edge directly to the upper part of the back frame, means pivoted to the cover adjacent the hinge of said cover for linking the cover directly to the rear portion of the container, whereby movement of the cover into open position will tilt the container forwardly, and means for supporting the container in the forwardly tilted position in said frame.

2. A hamper comprising a frame composed of two substantially similar U-shaped front and back frame members, means joining and spacing said frame members, a container pivotally supported in the lower portion of the front frame member providing forward til-ting movement of the upper portion of said container, said container having a cover hinged at its rear edge directly to the upper part of the back frame, means pivoted to the cover adjacent the hinge of said cover for linking the cover directlyto the rear portion of the container, whereby movement being hung by the of the cover into open position will tilt the container forwardly, means for supporting the container in the forwardly tilted position in said frame, and said last named means comprising a latch link.

3. A hamper comprising a frame composed of two substantially similar U-shaped front and back frame members, means joining and spacing said frame members, a container pivotally supported in the lower portion of the front frame member providing forward tilting movement of the upper portion of said contain-er, saidcontainer having a cover hinged at its rear edge directly to the upper part of the backframe, means pivoted to the cover adjacent the hinge of said cover for linking the cover directly to the rear portion of the container, whereby movement of the cover into open position will tilt the container forwardly, means for supportingthe container in the forwardly tilted position in said frame, said last named means comprising a latch link, and manually actuated means for moving said link into position to free the container for swinging movement into normal position in the frame.

4. A hamper comprising a container open at the top, a cover for closing the top opening, a frame arranged at side-and lower portions of the container, means pivoting the container in the lower front portion of the frame, means pivotally supporting the rear portion of the cover directly in the frame, and means directly pivoted to the cover and container for coupling the rear portion of the container with the cover at a point spaced frombut near the pivot of the cover, whereby movement of th'ecover'into open position will automatically tilt the upper portion of the container forwardly. v

5. A hamper comprising a container openfat the top, a cover for closing the top opening; a frame arranged at side and lower'portions of the container, means pivoting thecontainer in the lower front portion of the frame,. means pivotally supporting the rear portion of 'the cover directly in the frame,. meansdirectly pivoted to the cover and container for'coupling the rear portion of the container with the'cover at a point spaced from but near the pivot of the cover, whereby movement of the cover into open position will automatically tilt the upper portion of the container forwardly, and said last named means being concealed in a side wall of the container and operating through upper and rear portions of said wall.

6. A hamper comprising a container open at the top, a cover for closing the top opening, a frame arranged at side and lower portions of the container, means pivoting the container in the lower front portion of the frame, means pivotally supporting the cover in the frame, means coupling the rear portion of the container with the cover at a point spaced from but near the pivot of the cover, whereby movement of the cover into open position will automatically tilt the upper portion of the container forwardly, said last named means being concealed in a side wall of the container and operating through upper and rear portions of said wall. and a latch link disposed in said side wall and pivoted to said lever for supporting the container in said forwardly tilted position.

7. A hamper comprising a container open at the top, a cover for closing the top opening, a frame arranged at side and lower portions of the container, means pivoting the container in the lower front portion of the frame, means pivotally supporting the cover in the frame, means coupling the rear portion of the container with the cover at a point spaced from but near the pivot of the cover, whereby movement of the cover into open position will automatically tilt the upper portion of the container forwardly, said last named means being concealed in a side wall of the container and operating through upper and rear portions of said wall, a latch link disposed in said side wall and pivoted to said lever for supporting the container in said forwardly tilted position, and manually actuated means in said side wall of the container for moving said latch link into inoperative position.

8. A hamper comprising a container, a frame in which the container is pivoted for tilting movement, side walls of the container having chambers, a cover for the upper open end of the container, means pivoting the rear end of the cover directly in the frame, coupling rods arranged in the chambers of the side walls of the container and pivoted at one end directly to the container and at the other end directly to the cover in spaced relation to but adjacent the pivot of the cover, said rods being adapted to control movement of the container in the frame in the operation of opening and closing the cover, and means retaining the container in tilted position in said frame.

9. A hamper comprising a container having a rounded bottom, front and back U-shaped frame members conforming substantially to the contour of the lower and side portions of the container, said frame members having supporting feet at the lower portions thereof, means joining and spacing said frame members, means pivoting the lower front portion of the container in the front frame to provide forward tilting movement of the container in said frame, a cover hinged at the top of the back frame, and means coupling the hinged end portion of the cover with the rear portion of the container to support the container in upright position and to tilt the container forwardly in movement of the cover into raised position.

10. A hamper comprising a container having a rounded bottom, front and back U-shaped frame members conforming substantially to the contour of the lower and side portions of the container, said frame members having supporting feet at the lower portions thereof, means joining and spacing said frame members, means pivoting the lower front portion of the container in the front frame to provide forward tilting movement of the container in said frame, a cover hinged at the top of the back frame, means coupling the hinged end portion of the cover with the rear portion of the container to support the container in upright position and to tilt the container forwardly in movement of the cover into raised position, and said last named means comprising a linkage including a latch link adapted to support the container in tilted position in said frame.

11. A hamper comprising a container having a rounded bottom, front and back U-shaped frame members conforming substantially to the contour of the lower and side portions of the container, said frame members having supporting feet at the lower portions thereof, means joining and spacing said frame members, means pivoting the lower front portion of the container in the front frame to provide a forward tilting movement of the container in said frame, a cover hinged at the top of the back frame, means coupling the hinged end portion of the cover with the rear portion of the container to support the container in upright position and to tilt the container forwardly in movement of the cover into raised position, said last named means comprising a linkage including a latch link adapted to support the container in tilted position in said frame, and means joining and spacing the frame members at the top thereof comprising towel supporting rods.

12. A hamper comprising a container having a rounded bottom, front and back U-shaped frame members conforming substantially to the con tour of the lower and side portions of the container, said frame members having supporting feet at the lower portions thereof, means joining and spacing said frame members, means pivoting the lower front portion. of the container in the front frame to provide forward tilting movement of the container in said frame, a cover hinged at the top of the back frame, means coupling the hinged end portion of the cover with the rear portion of the container to support the container in upright position and to tilt the container forwardly in movement of the cover into raised position, said last named means comprising a linkage including a latch link adapted to support the container in tilted position in said frame, and the lower rear portion of the container being reduced in size to maintain the rear portion of the container within the boundaries of the frame in the tilted position of the container.

DAVID GREENE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,052,798 Collins Feb. 11, 1913 1,292,006 Minter Jan. 21, 1919 1,292,329 Johnson Jan. 21, 1919 

